Dr George Opie
NHMRC Early Career Fellowship
School of Biomedicine
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.
I am an early career neuroscientist located within the neurophysiology of human movement laboratory at The University of Adelaide. My research utilises non-invasive brain stimulation techniques such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to mechanistically understand the brain, with a particular emphasis on motor function. Currently, my main research interests revolve around mild forms of traumatic brain injury, with specific focus on identifying how these injuries influence the brain, and how changes within the brain manifest as altered functionality. I'm also interested in understanding how the ageing process influences the brain and in developing interventions for maintaining function in to old age.
Neurophysiology of Human Movement Laboratory
We utilise non-invasive brain stimulation techniques to better understand how the brain modifies its structure and function in response to experience. This enables us to better understand how the brain learns and stores new information, or recovers from injury. These techniques also allow us to design and test the viability of interventions for promoting beneficial changes within the brain in both health and disease. My research is particularly interested in applying these techniques to better understand changes in the brain associated with mild traumatic brain injury and healthy ageing, in addition to the neurophysiological mechanisms contributing to learning new motor skills.
Research Theme 1 - Investigating the neurophysiological effects of mild traumatic brain injury
Description: Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is extremely common, affecting millions of people annually. In contrast to the common belief that these injuries are short-lived in nature, emerging evidence suggests that alterations within the brain may be present long after mTBI. The nature of these alterations, and how they contribute to long-term functional deficits associated with injury, is not well understood. Using advanced non-invasive brain stimulation techniques in conjunction with electroencephalography (EEG), this research theme seeks to understand the neurophysiological alterations associated with brain injury in mTBI patients, to identify how these changes drive ongoing functional deficits and to develop interventions to help patients recover from these injuries.
Projects available for: Honours / HDR / Masters
Location: Helen Mayo Building
Research project start: Semester 1 and 2
Special requirements: None
Research Theme 2 - Cortical mechanisms associated with age-related deficits in motor function
Description: A degradation of motor function represents one of the most common deficits associated with the ageing process. These changes can impede the ability of older adults to care for themselves, and may significantly reduce their quality of life. Given the rapidly ageing population, it is crucial to develop a better understanding of these deficits and how they might be treated. Subsequently, this research theme uses advanced non-invasive brain stimulation techniques in conjunction with electroencephalography (EEG) to characterise changes within the brain that may contribute to age-related reductions in motor function, and to develop interventions to help older adults retain better motor function.
Projects available for: Honours / HDR / Masters
Location: Helen Mayo Building
Research project start: Semester 1 and 2
Special requirements: None
Research Theme 3 - Unravelling the role of cerebellar-motor connections in the acquisition of new motor skills.
Project description: Connections between the cerebellum and primary motor cortex are known to be critical mediators of the error-based acquisition of new motor skills. However, the nature of these connections and how they are modulated during learning, remains unclear. Using advanced non-invasive brain stimulation and imaging techniques, this research theme aims to develop new measures of cerebellar-motor connectivity that are sensitive to changes associated with the acquisition of novel motor skills, and to apply these to better understand cerebellar-motor connectivity in both health and disease.
Projects available for: Honours / HDR / Masters
Location: Helen Mayo Building
Research project start: Semester 1 and 2
Special requirements: None
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Appointments
Date Position Institution name 2023 - ongoing ARC DECRA Fellow University of Adelaide 2018 - 2022 NHMRC Early Career Research Fellow University of Adelaide 2015 - 2018 Research Associate University of Adelaide 2014 - 2014 Research Assistant University of Adelaide 2011 - 2013 Research Assistant University of Adelaide -
Awards and Achievements
Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount 2015 Award Deans Commendation for Doctoral Thesis Excellence - - - 2015 Award Doctoral Research Medal The University of Adelaide Australia - 2014 Award School of Medical Science Travel Award (International) - - - 2013 Award School of Medical Science Travel Award (National) - - - 2012 Scholarship Australian Postgraduate Award Scholarship (APA) - - - 2012 Scholarship Adelaide Centre for Neuroscience Research top-up Scholarship - - - 2012 Award Adelaide Centre for Neuroscience Research poster award - - - 2011 Achievement University of Adelaide, 1st class honours - - - -
Research Interests
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Journals
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Preprint
Year Citation 2024 Sasaki, R., Hand, B. J., Liao, W. -Y., Semmler, J. G., & Opie, G. M. (2024). Investigating the effects of repetitive paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation on visuomotor training using TMS-EEG.
DOI2023 Biabani, M., Fornito, A., Goldsworthy, M., Thompson, S., Graetz, L., Semmler, J., . . . Rogasch, N. (2023). Characterising the contribution of auditory and somatosensory inputs to TMS-evoked potentials following stimulation of prefrontal, premotor and parietal cortex.
DOI
NHMRC Early Career Fellowship: 'Investigating the “Silent Epidemic”: a TMS-EEG study of mild traumatic brain injury.' Neurosurgical Research Foundation Grant: 'Characterising the neurophysiological effects of concussion using combined TMS-EEG.' Neurosurgical Research Foundation Grant: 'Developing TMS-EEG indices of functional and physiological deficit following mild traumatic brain injury.' Australian Research Council: 'Reconnecting the ageing brain to enhance plasticity and motor learning.' Australian Brain Foundation: 'Characterising changes in brain oscillations and connectivity after mild traumatic brain injury' |
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Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2024 Co-Supervisor Targeting brain oscillations for human movement Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Amy Charlotte Meadows 2023 Principal Supervisor Investigating neuronal oscillations and motor function in older adults Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Ekaterina Voevodina 2022 Principal Supervisor Investigating the role of neuronal oscillatory interactions within the physiological and functional effects of mTBI Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Ms Emily Moore 2021 Co-Supervisor Investigating inducing plasticity in cortical circuits using repetitive paired pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation. Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Mr Suraj Suresh 2021 Co-Supervisor Interventions to manipulate neuroplasticity in ageing Doctor of Philosophy under a Jointly-awarded Degree Agreement with Doctorate Full Time Mrs Nishadi Nivanthika Gamage -
Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2021 - 2024 Co-Supervisor MODULATING CORTICAL PLASTICITY AND CONNECTIVITY TO IMPROVE MOTOR LEARNING IN OLDER ADULTS Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Wei-Yeh Merrick Liao 2018 - 2022 Co-Supervisor Motor Cortex Plasticity and Skill Acquisition in Endurance-Trained Athletes Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Brodie Hand
Connect With Me
External Profiles